States plan IR laws challenge

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Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales are flagging a
possible High Court challenge to the federal government's workplace
reforms once they see the final detail.

Prime Minister John Howard fleshed out his industrial changes
yesterday, as the government began a multi-million dollar
advertising blitz to counter an ACTU campaign tapping concerns in
the community.

The exact detail of the new laws is still about three weeks away
- the legislation is due to be introduced into parliament at the
start of next month.

Mr Howard reassured workers that they would have more jobs and
higher wages under his sweeping workplace changes.

But he again refused to guarantee that no worker would be worse
off under the revamp on the industrial system, asking the community
to look to his prime ministerial record as its guarantee.

NSW, Queensland and Western Australia have signalled they are
prepared to go to the High Court to challenge the long-awaited
laws.

"We will take every option open to us, including a High Court
challenge, to ensure that the pay packets of Queensland taxpayers
are protected from John Howard's unfair laws," Queensland's acting
industrial relations minister Anna Bligh said.

The West Australian government intends to seek legal advice over
the commonwealth's plans to use its external affairs, as well as
corporations powers, to bring in the changes.

"We will campaign vigorously using all methods at our disposal -
including a High Court challenge - to stop these extreme changes by
the Howard government (because) contrary to what (Workplace
Relations Minister) Kevin Andrews told us previously, this new
information shows the Howard government will also use External
Affairs powers as well corporations powers," WA's employment
minister John Kobelke said.

Acting NSW Premier John Watkins said he needed to see the
details of the reforms before the state government could decide
whether it could make a viable appeal to the High Court.

"We still don't have the legislation and the devil will be in
the detail," he said.